England World Cup squad: who is in the team of the season?

Who have been the best English players in the Premier League this season and should they go to the World Cup? Use our stats-based XI to help you choose your England squad for the finals in South Africa.

Unlikely lads: Peter Crouch and Scott Parker are in our Opta team of the season - but would they make it into your England World Cup squad?

There's one week to go in the Premier League season, and with the June 1 deadline day for England's World Cup squad drawing ever nearer, we've put together our best XI of English players from 2009-10 to help you select your World Cup 23.

The team is based on the Opta Index calculated by scoring according to the 300-plus categories that Opta monitor (over 2,000 actions per Premier League game). The same stats system has helped us build our England team of the week.

Team of the season (so far)

Joe Hart (Opta score 74): Has made more saves (120) than any other English keeper this season, he has also had the best saves to shot ratio (75pc) of any eligible goalie.

Glen Johnson (77): Has made more crosses from the right (108) than any other English defender in the Premier League this season. Has also weighed in with three goals and three assists.

Michael Dawson (69): Has made more interceptions (94) than any other England qualified player in the league. Has won 81 per cent of his tackles.

John Terry (71): Has won 64% of his duels and been involved in a competition joint high 16 clean sheets this season, he has also netted two goals.

Ashley Cole (77): Has only conceded 12 fouls all season, and has also made 47 crosses from the left for Chelsea.

Frank Lampard (82): Has scored 21 goals (more than any other midfielder) and also provided 12 assists, the joint second most league wide.

James Milner (66): Has netted seven goals and provided 12 assists (joint second most) from midfield for Aston Villa this season. Has also made 48 successful crosses, only Antonio Valencia (59) has made more.

Scott Parker (66): Has been successful with 63 per cent of his dribbles, the third best rate in the league. He also helped out in defence with 25 blocks and two clearances off the line.

Steven Gerrard (73): Has created 78 goal-scoring chances for his team mates - only Lampard (111) from the England set up has produced more. Has been denied by the woodwork five times, more than any other midfielder.

Wayne Rooney (84): Is joint top scorer in the Premier League this season (26), and has also been denied by the woodwork six times (more than any other player).

Peter Crouch (76): Mustered 19 headers on target (the most in the league) five of which he converted to goals, behind only Tim Cahill in the league.